CROMWELL – A two-vehicle crash south of Claypool claimed the life of a Cromwell man Friday, according to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff’s deputies and emergency personnel responded Friday at 3:09 p.m. to a reported vehicle crash at the intersection of County Farm Road and CR 800S, according to a press release from KCSD. Officers arrived and found one of the driver in a nearby field, northeast of the intersection. The Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office arrived and pronounced Anthony Wayne Gabbard, 25, Cromwell, dead at the scene from blunt force trauma. Gabbard had been driving a mo-ped. Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team members stated that preliminary investigation determined that Gabbard was traveling eastbound on CR 800S when he failed to stop at the intersection. Gabbard pulled directly into the path of a northbound Dodge Grand Caravan, driven by Sheldon L. Marles, 40, Warsaw. After impact, Gabbard was thrown from his mo-ped, which became lodged under the front of Marles’ van. The gasoline tank of the mo-ped ignited after the collision, but was extinguished by fireman from Claypool and Warsaw/Wayne Township Fire Territory. Marles was not injured in the crash. Sheriff’s deputies said the crash remains under investigation.
